Over 60 LGBT candidates in fray for November elections in Nepal

Nepal got its first and only gay parliamentarian after the 2008 constituent assembly election. But many more could join the list when results of the next election, due in November, are announced. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Jul 5, 2013, 23:58:40 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal got its first and only gay parliamentarian after the 2008 constituent assembly election. But many more could join the list when results of the next election, due in November, are announced.

There are still doubts on election taking place on schedule, but the country’s first organization fighting for rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered and inter-sexed (LGBTI) is already ready.

The Blue Diamond Society has announced a list of 62 LGBT candidates who would contest the polls due on November 19.

“The candidates come from all across Nepal. We want political parties to give them tickets to contest,” says BDS founder Sunil Babu Pant, Nepal’s first openly gay parliamentarian.

Pant, a computer engineer by profession, had become an MP of the previous constituent assembly as a member of Communist Party of Nepal (United).

“If political parties deny tickets to LGBTs, they would contest as independent candidates. The number of candidates from the community can rise in coming days,” he said.

To ensure that doesn’t happen Pant is in talks with many parties who have agreed to fight for LGBT rights and even shown interest in fielding candidates.

“I hope my party gives me a ticket to contest from Kathmandu,” said Bhumika Shrestha, 26, a transgender who is a member of Nepali Congress, the country’s oldest party.

Pant also wants the election commission provide security, logistical support to LGBT candidates and provide separate queues at voting booths for members of the community.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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